NCJ Number
17778
Date Published
1973
Length
22 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF EIGHT DIFFERENT MODELS OF MECHANICAL LOCKING DEVICES USED TO PREVENT OR DETER THE REMOVAL OF A, USUALLY LOADED, SEMI-TRAILER WHEN IT IS PARKED FOR LOADING, UNLOADING, OR TEMPORARY HOLDOVER.
Abstract
A TRAILER KINGPIN LOCKING DEVICE CONSISTS OF A COLLAR OR OTHER OBSTRUCTIVE DEVICE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE 'FIFTH WHEEL' PIVOT PIN OF A MOTOR FREIGHT SEMI-TRAILER WHEN THE TRAILER IS PARKED AND DETACHED FROM ITS TRACTOR TRUCK. THE LOCKING DEVICE INCORPORATES A LOCK CYLINDER OR PADLOCK INTENDED TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL AND IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT ATTACHMENT OF A TRACTOR TRUCK TO THE TRAILER ON WHICH IT IS INSTALLED. EIGHT DIFFERENT MODELS OF TRAILER KINGPIN LOCKING DEVICES, MANUFACTURED BY FIVE DIFFERENT COMPANIES, WERE EXAMINED. ALL DESIGNS WERE FOUND SUITABLE FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTION OF A LOADED TRAILER IN A SUPERVISED WORKING AREA. ONLY ONE MODEL WAS FOUND SUITABLE WHEN USED AS A COMPONENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY PLAN FOR EXTENDED PROTECTION IN A STORAGE AREA SUBJECT TO ONLY OCCUSIONAL SUPERVISION. ALL LOCKING DEVICE DESIGNS WERE SUCH THAT THEY COULD BE MADE SUITABLE FOR EXTENDED PROTECTION BY SIMPLE MECHANICAL DESIGN MODIFICATIONS. DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE OF DESIRABLE IMPROVEMENTS FOR EACH LOCKING DEVICE DESIGN. A LIST OF RECOMMENDED DESIGN FEATURES SUITABLE TO TRAILER KINGPIN LOCKS IN GENERAL IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)